William l



WILLIAM L. REGK,'OF DAIRKE COUNTY, QHIO.

Letters Patent No. 82,034, dated September 8,1868.

IMPROVED TILE-MAGHINB.

dite Subtitle referrer tu in time @titers tant ant mating mit nf tigt stmt.'

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: i

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. REGK, of the county of Darke, in the State of Ohio, have invented a new and improved Machine for Making Drain-Tiles; and I do hereby deelarethe following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, and

Figure 2 a central longitudinal vertical section of my improved machine; the position of the operatingbeam being reversed in said figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 3 is a'plan of the rocking-frame and cam-bars thereon, for opening and closing the relieving-gate of the feeding-box; and j Figure 4, a detached view of an alternate device for adjusting the connection of the rod, extending from the reciprocating beam to the sweep-bar.

Similar letters indicate.` like parts in all of the 'gures.

The nature of my invention consists in providing an air-aperture in the feeding-box of the machine, to be closed by a suitable gate operated by a pivoted rocking-frame, actuated by the sweep-har of the pug-mill; and also in combining an apron with the screen in the front end of the feeding-box, whereby any gravel or other material arrested by the screen may be readily withdrawn.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the bed-frame of the machine; B, the pug-mill, in which revolves` a central vertical shaft, C, provided with a suitable number of radial arms or knives, a a, to thoroughly cut up,mix, and temper the clay, a lower arm or paddle, abeing so formed -and inclined as to force the clay from the mill down through an aperture, P, fig. 2, formed for the purpose in the bottom thereof. This aperture communicates with a feeding-box or space, E, through which the tempered clay is forced to the moulds by means of a plunger, F, sliding freely therein.

A screen, G, is dropped down in 'suitable ways in the front portion of the box E, through an aperture formed to admit it, and fits closely therein.- This screen is provided with an apron, b, secured to its lower edge, at right angles thereto, and as the ,gravel and other substances arrested by the screen will rest thereon, they may be removed bylifting the screen and apron. j

The plunger F is connected by a link, c, with the lower end of a vertical, centrally-pivoted beam, H, whose upper end is connectedby a hinged connecting-rod, I, with a crank-pin, d, on a sweep, J, secured to the upper end o f the upright shaft C of the pug-mill.

i By means of this connecting-rod I, the revolutioncf the sweep imparts a reciprocating movement to Athe beam H, and to the plunger F connected thereto. j

In order to adjust the connecting-rod I, and vary thereby at pleasure the extent of movementin the beam H and plunger F, I contemplate securing the crank-pinA I in a slotted plate, K, (see g. 4,) secured upon the sweep J, the slots in said plate being so arranged as to admit of an adjustment of the crank-pin therein to or from the sweep and its centre of motion.

Immediately in front of the discharging-aperture I of the pug-mill, and over the feed-box E, is formed an aperture, e, closed by a gate, M, sliding in ways formed secure inthe side ofthe pug-mill B.

The lower edge of the gate is so enlarged or bent as not only to form an extended surface, completely closing the aperture e, but toact as a plunger to force back any clay which 'may work up therein whilst the Agate is opened.

This gate is connected by a suitable rod, f, with one end of a frame, N, so pivoted horizontally on a fixed framework, O, over the pug-mill, and beneath the horizontal sweep J, as to rock freely, its play being equal te the amount of vertical movement required to open and close the gate M, (see figs. 1 and 2Q) Upon the upper surface of the frame N, on either side of the shaft C, forming the axis ofthe sweep J, are placed two curved bars, Q Q', (see iig. 3,) having upper inclined or cam-surfaces, and friction-wheels or rollers,

r r', are secured uponmthe underside of the sweep-bar J to bear against said cam-surfaces alternately in the revolution ofthe sweep, and thus, by forcing down the frame alternatelyr on the one side and the other, impart` thereto a constant rocking movement, causing it to open and `close alternately the gate M connected therewith.

In operation, the clay is placed in the pug-mill B, and thereinthoroughly mixed and tempered-by the armsor stirrers a a in the usuai mannerf portion ofthe clay downjnto'the feeding-box E through the aperture P. The connection of the sweep J and the connected beam H, operating the plunger F, with the shaft C lof the pug-mill, is such as that the plunger F :is withdrewn, (as illustratedby red dotted lines in fig-.1,)whilst the paddle a is forcing the clay into the feeding-box E. The `continuedrevolution ofthe sweep-causes the plunger F to move forward in the feedingbox E, and forces' the charge of clay forward through the screen G at the front of the boxto the moulds in which the tiles are formed.

Should any gravel remain in the clay, it is l'arrested by the screen, and', resting' on its apron 6, may be removed by lifting and withdrawing the same. v

To allow an escape of air from feeding-box as the plunger works therein, so as to facilitate'its movement, the gate M, which closes the aperture e, is opened automatically, so soon as a charge of clay is forced into the box, by the movement of' the rocking-frame N, actuated by the rollers r acting against its cam-surfaces. Should any clay work up through said opening e, the return of the gate M, under the pressure of the roller r upon the cam Q', will force it back into `the feeding-box. y I

I do not claim the reciprocating plunger F, moving in the spaceE beneath the pug-mill B, nor the mechanism for moving the same; but having fully described 'my invention,

I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The horizontal rocking-frame N, actuated by the'sweep-bar J, and operating the Agate M, to open and close Yalternately the aperture e in the feeding-box E of my improved machine, substantially as herein set forth.

The foregoing specification of my improved tile-machine signed by me, this 14th day of May, A. D. 1868.

' WILLIAM L. BECK.

Witnesse s:

l W- ALLEN, JOHN T. LECKLIDER.

At each revolution of the shaft C, the lower inclined `paddle a forces a 

